Arsenic: What You Need to Know

The use of arsenic as a poison is widely documented. As a result, many people are alarmed when they hear that their drinking water, either from a public or private water system, may contain an amount of arsenic. What do you do if your water contains arsenic, and can it be removed? This Q&A addresses these questions and more.

What is arsenic?

Arsenic is a semi-metallic element with the chemical symbol “As”. It occurs naturally in rocks, soils, and waters that come in contact with these rocks and soils. Arsenic is odorless and tasteless.

Arsenic can combine with other elements to form inorganic and organic arsenicals. In general, inorganic derivatives are regarded as more toxic than the organic forms. While food can contain both inorganic and organic arsenicals, primarily inorganic forms are present in water.

Exposure to arsenic at high levels poses potential serious health effects as it is a known human carcinogen, or cancer-causing agent. It also has been reported to affect the vascular system in humans and has been associated with the development of diabetes.

Arsenic enters the human body principally through the mouth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and inhaled arsenic also is absorbed through the lungs into the blood­stream. “Small amounts of arsenic may enter the body through the skin, but this is not usually an important consideration,” reads the CDC’s Public Health Statement on arsenic

Is my private well at risk?

Exposure to arsenic in drinking water has been identified as a health concern in regions of the United States where bedrock contains unusu­ally high levels of arsenic, such as areas of New Hampshire, Maine, Michigan, and regions in the Southwest and the Rockies. Your state’s Department of Natural Resources or Geological Survey Office may have information on any areas of your state that may be prone to the presence of high levels of arsenic.

Private well water should be tested annually for bacteria, nitrates, and anything else of concern to the well owner, such as arsenic. Test­ing should be conducted by a certified drinking water laboratory. Visit http://water.epa.gov/scitech/drinkingwater/labcert/statecertification.cfm to find your state drinking water testing laboratory certification officer who can provide a list of certified labs in your area, or call the Private Well Owner Hotline at (855) 420-9355.

If you do have an arsenic level in your water that is higher than you would like, there are water treatment technologies available to address the problem.

What types of treatment solutions are available to private well owners?

NSF International is a not-for-profit organization that develops stand­ards, product testing procedures, and certification services for products including water treatment devices. NSF has certified point-of-use reverse osmosis and distillation devices for the reduction of arsenic in drinking water. Pretreating water through chlorination or oxidation may be necessary to make reverse osmosis devices effective for arsenic re­moval. For more information or a list of NSF-certified devices, contact the organization at (800) 673-8010, or visit the Web site at www.nsf.org.

Some of the treatment technologies may not be amenable to point-of-entry, or whole-house, treatments. In these cases, point-of-use units, which treat water at the tap, may be the best option.

Following installation of a treatment device, water quality should again be tested to verify the operation of the device. After that, water should be tested at least annually to confirm treatment effectiveness. A maintenance agreement for such devices is highly recommended.

Again, since water quality varies greatly, be sure to have your water tested and consult a local water professional for advice before purchas­ing a water treatment system.

How does arsenic enter a private water system?

A primary source of arsenic to drinking water wells is from water flowing through arsenic-rich rocks and soil. It can be further released into the environment through natural activities such as volcanic action and forest fires, as well as through human actions. Arsenic is used in paints, dyes, metals, drugs, soaps, and semiconductors. Agricultural applications, mining, and smelting also contribute to arsenic releases in the environment. These can enter the groundwater system by gradually moving with the flow of groundwater from rains, melting of snow, etc.

Testing water for arsenic in areas where arsenic is a concern is an important strategy for private water well owners to safeguard the health and well-being of their family. Working with a water professional to monitor and maintain the quality of the well and water supply is an important responsibility of the private water system owner. Your groundwater contractor is your central source of information about caring for your system.

What is the measurement of arsenic?

The U.S. EPA established the current maximum contaminant level (MCL) for arsenic, 10 micrograms per liter (or parts per billion). The EPA does not regulate private water wells, but its drinking water rules provide a good standard by which to measure your water quality.

What are the symptoms of overexposure to arsenic?

Observable symptoms of arsenic poisoning are thickening and discol­oration of the skin, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, numbness in hands and feet, partial paralysis, and blindness.

For more information on arsenic, visit the Dartmouth Toxic Metals Superfund Research Program’s webpage, Arsenic and You.